Umeda Sky Tower

Part of a wider concept of interlinking towers under the name of "City of Air", Hara's project had to be reduced from four to two towers due to practicalities. Even so, it is absolutely breathtaking to experience the magic of engineering hidden behind the structure of this complex. The building program includes an underground restaurant, mall and a roof garden observatory, opened to the public and connected through a series of lifts and diagonal escalators which float above the cityscape. Although it is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Osaka, with 173 m, it is nowhere near the tallest, but even so, it is worth a great deal of admiration.